STEAMED PAUS - PALM SUGAR FILLING

My husband's friend gave him some palm sugar [gula melaka] from Melaka.  The palm sugar is not very sweet but is soft and easy to chopped into small pieces.

I used them to make these paus.  Fluffy paus with an easy gula melaka filling.  I believe this recipe is good for a novice in pau making. 

Ingredients

[makes 12 paus]

200 gm pau flour

1 tbsp icing sugar

1 tsp instant yeast

1/2 tsp double action baking powder

1/4 tsp white vinegar

1 tbsp golden syrup

100-120 ml water

1/2 tbsp shortening

Ingredients For Filling

50 gm palm sugar/gula melaka - chopped

some diced glazed cherries for decoration

1. For Skin - combine all ingredients [except shortening] in a mixing bowl.  Gradually add in water/vinegar to mix into a rough dough [may not need to use all the water]. 
2. Add in shortening, continue to knead until dough is soft and smooth.  Shape into a round ball, leave in bowl, cover to rest for 20 minutes or double in size.
3. Punch down, roll into a ball, then divide into 10 equal portions or more according to own preference.  Shape each portion into a ball.
4. Flatten each ball and wrap 1 tsp gula melaka filling, seal the edges well into a pleated or round pau.  Place on a piece of parchment paper in a steaming tray [I used my electric steamer].  Finish making the rest.
5. Cover and leave to proof for 20-30 minutes or until double in size.
6. Steaming over high heat for 10-12 minutes.
7. Off heat, remove to cool on wire rack before storing or serve immediately.